Ethical Hacking News
OpenClaw's AI agent farm has revealed itself to be vulnerable to indirect prompt injection, allowing attackers to backdoor machines and steal sensitive data or perform destructive operations.
OpenClaw, an AI agent farm, contains vulnerabilities that expose sensitive credentials. The marketplace has flaws in nearly 4,000 skills, which can lead to API key exposure, password leakage, and credit card number theft. Developers are treating AI agents like local scripts rather than secure applications, leaving sensitive information exposed. Indirect prompt injection vulnerability allows attackers to backdoor machines and steal sensitive data or perform destructive operations.
OpenClaw, the AI agent farm once hailed as a revolutionary tool for developers and businesses alike, has revealed itself to be a Pandora's box of vulnerabilities. The platform, which allows users to create custom agents using pre-built templates, has been found to be riddled with weaknesses that can be exploited by malicious actors.
According to recent research conducted by Snyk engineers, the entire OpenClaw marketplace containing nearly 4,000 skills contains flaws that expose sensitive credentials. This finding is particularly concerning, as many of these skills are functional and popular among users, yet they instruct AI agents to mishandle secrets in ways that can lead to API key exposure, password leakage, and even credit card number theft.
The SKILL.md instructions, which govern how these skills work, have been found to be problematic. It appears that developers treating AI agents like local scripts rather than secure applications has led to the security breaches. This means that many users may not even realize they are leaving their sensitive information exposed.
Moreover, researchers have discovered vulnerabilities related to indirect prompt injection. This means that an attacker could potentially backdoor a user's machine and then steal sensitive data or perform destructive operations. The implications of this vulnerability are dire, as it provides a clear path for malicious actors to gain access to highly sensitive information.
The news comes at a time when the security landscape is increasingly complex and ever-evolving. With more and more businesses and individuals relying on AI-powered tools like OpenClaw, the importance of robust security measures cannot be overstated. As we continue to navigate this brave new world of artificial intelligence, it is imperative that we prioritize security above all else.
In light of these findings, researchers are urging developers and users to exercise extreme caution when working with OpenClaw. This includes thoroughly reviewing skill documentation, ensuring that AI agents are treated as secure applications rather than local scripts, and regularly monitoring their systems for signs of suspicious activity.
Ultimately, the vulnerability nightmare waiting to unfold on OpenClaw serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust security measures in the digital age. As we move forward, it is crucial that we prioritize security above all else and work together to create a safer, more secure online environment for everyone.
OpenClaw's AI agent farm has revealed itself to be vulnerable to indirect prompt injection, allowing attackers to backdoor machines and steal sensitive data or perform destructive operations.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Dark-Side-of-OpenClaw-A-Vulnerability-Nightmare-Waiting-to-Unfold-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/02/05/openclaw_skills_marketplace_leaky_security/
https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/05/openclaw_skills_marketplace_leaky_security/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/openclaw-reveals-meaty-personal-information-after-simple-cracks/ar-AA1VLSSv
Published: Wed Feb 18 05:56:39 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
